Our young pastor is getting married next month & the women of the church would like to give him & his bride a shower & invite the entire congregation. The problem is none of us have ever hosted or attended a 'couples' shower before. Do you have entertainment? We figure none of the guys will want to play 'shower' games, so we nixed that idea. What about decorations? We're thinking of spring flowers from our flowerbeds in antique canning jars & raffia bows on the tables. We decided on a Saturday morning brunch with breakfast casseroles, breads/rolls, fresh fruit, juices & coffee. We'll have time for visiting & opening gifts, but is all this TOO simple? Do you have any ideas how we can make it really special for them? Have you seen anything that really sticks in your mind as being great? He helps the women of the church on quilting day, but has told us he doesn't want a quilt because he already has plenty & loves his old double-knit ones the best. (Is that crazy, or what!?) Any input? Thanks a bunch!

Okay, he says HE doesn't want any quilts. But what does SHE say? She may have entirely different ideas as to what she wants in her house. As a Pastor's wife, she will have an almost always open house, will be judged as to her housekeeping abilities, how she decorates the place. And where will they live? In a parsonage or will they live in their own house/apartment? What kind of decorations does SHE love?

One of my ex-brothers in law was a Preacher, and his wife was doomed to live in a house of glass, or at least that was the way I saw it.

So your Pastor's lady must be a woman of character, simply ask her what she wants and tell her why.

Believe it or not, men like games too. Tweak the "shower" games a bit to fit both and you will have a great time.

Good Point! I'll have to get her opinion. They'll live in the parsonage right next to the church & I'll contact her regarding HER tastes. Thanks for the help! BTW she's a great gal with character to match & they are very good for each other. He's getting a real gem & we're happy to have her become a part of our 'family'.

Thanks, I'll see what we can come up with. My DH already informed me he doesn't do wedding showers, so I'll count him out.
:roll:

I am a pastor's wife...and I think what you have planned for your pastor and his bride to be sounds perfect!!! That will be a wonderful memory for them and all of you!

Our kids and the friends we associate with have all been getting married and we have been having a couples showere for them. There have been themes based on what their occupation is. One couple were nurses so it was a MASH theme, one was going in law enforcement and the theme was around that. The latest to get married is living up north and has horses on a ranch. It was a cowboy theme. We've had lots of fun. The food and decor matched. Good luch with yours.

The last couples shower we attended the games were:
1. The newlywed game with parents of the couple and the couple plus one other couple. Ques: how they met, where they met, each other's favorite (various ques, color, food) first fight, etc.
2. Grab the nametag, everyone makes a nametag when they arrive, during social time and meal each person tries to get the person they are talking with to say the name of the bride or groom, when the other person says the name grab their name tag. The person collecting the most tags wins a doorprize. This worked great for us because neither of us knew the name of the bride, (LOL)
The theme for gifts was around the house, so people brought things to be used around the house; trash can on wheels, rake, we gave 2 sizes house stepladders that can collapse and fit in a small space, bbq equipment, cooking, cleaning, gift cards, small tool kits, hand drill, level, baskets themed movie night, popcorn, movie.

Don't fret over the game part ... make it a good social time.

And heaven forbid (fitting in this case?) don't call it a shower for the men-folk who are anti-shower!

Absolutely, check with Bride and preferably while Groom is present as to what they'd prefer for their gifts. This way, it will not appear you went behind is back, and cause any potential conflict between them, you or the congregation. Believe me, I know all too much about Church politics!!

Maybe they'd prefer one large gift? rather than several small ones? And maybe too, they would like a quilt, and he is being humble about it?

Rather than a guest book, what about signature blocks to be made into a table topper or some sort of mini quilt? Or you could have the finished product there, and let them sign in on it.

I too am a pastor's wife. However he didn't become a pastor until after we were married over 20 years and all our kids were almost teens.
All of you have great ideas. Please ask her what she would like. It is true that she will be "entertaining" a lot, we have people over here all the time!!!!